Mikel Arteta: Arsenal aiming to tie William Saliba down to new contract when time is right

Mikel Arteta is confident a new deal for defender William Saliba will be signed when the time is right. The Frenchman has only one year left on his current deal, after Arsenal triggered an extension earlier this season. 

The club have been in talks with Saliba’s representatives since before the World Cup. No agreement has yet been reached but, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Newcastle, Arteta insisted Arsenal are doing all they can to tie down the 22-year-old France international.

‘Obviously (sporting director) Edu and the board are on top of every negotiation regarding new contracts and now we are doing everything we possibly can to do that in the right moment at the right time,’ Arteta said.

‘The communication and the relationship is super. It is about timing, I think. Nothing else.’ Saliba has not signed improved terms since arriving as a teenager in the summer of 2019 for £27million.

He is one of a number of young talents that Arsenal have attempted to tie down in recent months. Gabriel Martinelli has already put pen to paper to become of the club’s highest earners, while Bukayo Saka is closing in on a lucrative new contract.

And Gabriel Magalhaes faces a late fitness test ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle on Sunday

Gunners boss Arteta could be without both preferred centre backs, with Saliba also ruled out

‘We want to keep our best talent. Especially the players that deserve some recognition,’ Arteta said. ‘I think he has been incredible since he came back from his loan period and we want to reward him, that is for sure. We will find the right moment to do that.’

Defeat at St James’ Park last season proved pivotal as Arsenal missed out on the Champions League. This time round, another…